Fun Friends is a programme we use in Glenwood to help children develop their emotional resilience – to find out more click on the link to the Sway at the bottom of this post.
Part of the Fun Friends programme is learning about feelings in ourselves and others. It is also a key part of Curriculum for Excellence.
What we want children to learn:
- It’s OK to have feelings, everyone has feelings.
- To recognise feelings in themselves and others.
- Hitting, kicking or breaking things is not OK.
Feelings – talk about different feelings: happy, sad, angry, scared, tired, nervous, excited, jealous, calm, silly, lonely, playful, brave etc.
Learning about feelings through play – role play feelings (eg show me excited or angry), act out scenarios (eg going on a bear hunt), demonstrate how people you know show their feelings.
Feelings are OK, actions we control – Explain that feelings are OK, everyone has feelings but how we choose to act is very important. You could use thumbs up for good choices and thumbs down for bad choices.
- When we are scared we can choose to run away, hide, not try something new or we can choose to stand up tall, speak in a loud voice, give something a try.
- When we are angry we can choose to stamp our feet, shout or break things or we can choose to calm down, have a drink of water, have some quiet time and talk to someone.
- When we are happy we can choose to shout and scream very loudly and runn around like crazy or we can choose to laugh, smile, sing or cuddle a soft toy.
Sing the traditional song If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. Introduce alternative feelings and actions, such as:
angry….stamp your feet, sad….have a cry, scared….hide and shake, brave….stand up tall
- Can you predict other people’s emotions? eg when you have news to share or when something unexpected happens
- Think of ways to change how someone feels. Can you make someone happy, can you give them a surprise?
- Draw pictures of things that make you feel sad, worried or angry and talk about ways to feel better.
CBeebies has some more feelings activities and songs you could try. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/joinin/talking-to-your-child-about-emotions
“Men don’t feel sad”
Talking to children they frequently say men don’t feel sad, worried or frightened. They misread these signs as angry. So men in particular need to help children by explaining their feelings, eg “I know I shouted at you when you went out on the road but I felt frightened you might get hurt.”
As children misread men’s feelings, they often say men don’t need help and they don’t know how they manage their feelings. Dads, tell your child what helps you – “I feel sad not seeing Granny and Grandpa too but your cuddles make me feel better” – “I go for a walk when I feel angry.”
Please keep in touch as you explore your feelings together @GlenwoodFC #Glenwoodlearningathome
Follow these links for futher information:
Glenwood Emotional Intelligence Sway
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